Introduction

At five years of age, I stood above the clouds at sunset atop a mountain with my father. He told me to never forget the moment. I never have.

I consider myself lucky to have had parents who regarded nature as the primary source of truthfulness. In our family, nature was never secondary to the inventions, interpretations, or interventions of human making. Rather, it was meant to enhance, guide, and inspire what humans create. My mother, who expressed nature in the words of a poet—and my father, an artist and architect who had a creatively gifted mind and generous heart—gave me opportunities from the beginning to experience life as deeply connected to the earth and sky. My father taught me that nature was beautiful, powerful, and mysterious—and always to be respected. Nature was the source of all that is and an infinitely creative and patient mentor. I’ve drawn images and informat....